Shias in Egypt face persecution, curbs on practicing faith

By: Sultan Ahmed

CAIRO, Egypt: Dr. Saaduddin Ibrahim, director Ibn Khaldoun Center of Development Studies in Egypt said he held talks with the foreign affairs official in the campaign of US presidential candidate John Kerry and a group of assisting officials on four Arab issues: Palestine, Iraq, Darfur and democracy in the Arab world.

Dr Ibrahim made his remarks after returning home from a visit to the United States.

He said that he presented a written report in English language to the American committee that focuses on the presence of problems in the country and the society and especially in the cultural roots and non-clarity, -transparency and -democracy in the political system. He added that the report also points out that Shias, the Koranic ones and the Bahais are exposed to persecution in Egypt and could not practice their rituals and faith.

Commenting on the visit of American religious freedoms committee to Cairo and its meeting the day before yesterday with members of Ibn Khaldoun Center, Dr Ibrahim said this committee visits Egypt annually since six years, and the problem is that the general talk in Egypt always says, “we don’t have any problem with the minorities or the other religions.

It is worth mentioning that the Egyptian security authorities carry out wide campaign against the Shias, and the prisons are full of detainees for keeping books of Ahlol Beit (the prophet's progeny, peace be upon them) or because they offer their prayers as Allah, His messenger (peace be upon him & his pure progeny) and his progeny (peace be on them) commanded.

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